SoapLand - The Battle Of The Soapland Battles - The Result

Richard Channing

Telly Talk Winner
LV
13
 
Messages
3,861
Reaction score
10,098
Awards
25
Location
Tuscany Valley
Member Since
December 21st, 2013
So here we are, we've reached battle 100 which marks the end of the Soapland battles. The final battle will be an opportunity to look back and vote on some of our favourite battles over the years. All the battles (except the first 5/6) can be found at the very top of this forum) for those who wish to take a look through them. Actually I was discussing the first few being missing with Willie the other day and I realized that we have been doing these for over 4 years! Since before the site crashed in 2016. So this really is the end of an era.

Willie and I have thoroughly enjoyed hosting these and taking part in them, of course. And I'd like to thank Willie for all his input and ideas that have helped to make these so much fun. Alternating who picked the theme has been a great way to do it, as we almost never conferred on what the other one would do next, so it kept things fresh and kept things interesting for us too. I will miss them, but 100 seemed like a good place to stop as we've covered pretty much everything we could think of over the years.

People have written some great stuff when voting that I have really enjoyed reading. Your top 5 can be for whatever reason, you liked the topic, you were reminded of storylines/scenes you'd forgotten, or you particularly enjoyed seeing how other members would vote, or reading others comments on the theme.


BATTLES 4.jpg
 

Angela Channing

World Cup of Soaps Moderator
LV
16
 
Messages
13,714
Reaction score
25,430
Awards
42
Member Since
1999
So here we are, we've reached battle 100 which marks the end of the Soapland battles.
All good things must come to an end. :(

I would just like to reiterate what I said in the last Battle which was to thank @Willie Oleson for all his work into making these contest so much fun and allowing us to reminisce and look back on some of our favourite shows when compiling our lists. I would now like to extend those thanks to @Richard Channing whose contribution to these battles has been equally significant. Thank you both!



I was a late arrival at this party and I missed many of the first battles but once I realised these were going on I always tried to participate and it was fun.

I hoped you would have done a battle of favourite scenes involving a baby (maybe you did and I missed it) as they were some of my favourite scenes of all times. Indulge me while I say what my top 5 would have been:

1. Deranged Claudia takes Little Blake on the roof and Big Blake tries to talk her down while Krystle, Jeff and Fallon watch on. A security guard ties to be a hero and sneaks up on Claudia but only succeeds in spooking her and she trip as moves away causing her to drop the baby over the roof and he falls to his death, or so we think. We later discover it was a doll she was carrying. One of the best scenes ever in DYNASTY

2. Melissa gives up Joseph to Cole in exchange for Angela to make her the heir to Falcon Crest. One of my favourite scenes even. FALCON CREST

3. After the paternity test determines who is John Ross's father, JR pics up his son for the first time. Along with Bobby's death scene, this was probably the most emotional scene ever in DALLAS

4. The Fishers drop off gifts for Val's babies and to say goodbye. For more than a season everyone wanted Val to be reunited with her twins but this moving scene reminded everyone how much the Fishers loved the babies and that they were also victims in the kidnapping. KNOTS LANDING

4. Bobby brings Christopher to Southfork to confront JR but Pam thinks their adoption came through and this child is her baby. The joy on Pam face and the anguish on Bobby's was just brilliant. DALLAS

I'll post my top 5 favourite battles shortly after I've given it a bit more thought.
 

Willie Oleson

Telly Talk Schemer
LV
8
 
Messages
18,832
Reaction score
32,278
Awards
22
Location
Plotville, Shenanigan
Member Since
April 2002
Thank you Richard, I've enjoyed being your co-host and I always looked forward to the next theme.
I'm also very grateful for the skwanky location you have chosen for the big super finale. "Everything looks bigger on TV" they say, but this is certainly not the case with La Mirage.
*sniffs* do I smell something?

Thinking of new themes for the competitions was part of the fun, I usually had no idea what I was going to do until I posted it, so that adds a nice retrospective element to this last round. And a tad melancholic too.
I honestly didn't think that we could discuss our favourite prime time soaps from so many different angles, and it was very nice to see members from different forums taking part in all the competitions.

And what a fabulous collage of winners you've made: Gary's laughter, Bobby's car, Maggie's death - it's all there. Sable Colby managed to score three times. Not bad for a spin-off diva.

The award for this bonus battle will go to the soap that has won the winning battle (if that makes sense).
Ciao, for now.
 

Angela Channing

World Cup of Soaps Moderator
LV
16
 
Messages
13,714
Reaction score
25,430
Awards
42
Member Since
1999
1, The Battle of The Doctors - because it as the first soap Battle that I took part in. I just looked at my top 5 again and I still agree with it.

2. The Battle of the Characters You Hate - because it allowed me to bring out my inner bitch. My top choice was Charley Wade who I described as "quite simply the most ghastly creation in the history of soap operas. Hideous character on just about every level with an annoyance factor that was off the Richter scale." However, I liked my description of Laurel Ellis more: "dreadful, just dreadful! Awful storyline, awful character and awful acting. Absolutely no redeeming features whatsoever, just ghastly."

3. The Battle of Camp-O-Rama - because I always thought Dynasty was the camp soap of the 80s prime time soap operas but when compiling my top 5, I realised that the others could do camp just as well when they wanted.

4. The Battle of The Scenery - because Flamingo Road finally got on the scoreboard!

5. The Battle of The Laughter - because I thought it was a strange topic but when I thought about it (and I hadn't previously) the characters in those 80s soaps had some really memorable laughs from Melissa's deep throaty laugh to Gary's high pitched giggle.
 

Richard Channing

Telly Talk Winner
LV
13
 
Messages
3,861
Reaction score
10,098
Awards
25
Location
Tuscany Valley
Member Since
December 21st, 2013
I would now like to extend those thanks to @Richard Channing whose contribution to these battles has been equally significant. Thank you both!
Thanks Angela. It's been an absolute pleasure.

I hoped you would have done a battle of favourite scenes involving a baby (maybe you did and I missed it)

We didn't but it's a good idea!
 

Willie Oleson

Telly Talk Schemer
LV
8
 
Messages
18,832
Reaction score
32,278
Awards
22
Location
Plotville, Shenanigan
Member Since
April 2002
because I always thought Dynasty was the camp soap of the 80s prime time soap operas but when compiling my top 5, I realised that the others could do camp just as well when they wanted
I agree, and I'm glad you've (re-)discovered the camp in other soaps.
because Flamingo Road finally got on the scoreboard!
I think it deserved more than just 0.5 points, but we knew it was going to be a tough fight for the short-lived soaps.



1. The Phone Calls
There's no shortage of telephone scenes in soap operas (or any TV series for that matter) but I found it a real challenge to find/remember the best ones.
And that's why it felt so satisfying when I did.

2. The Insults/Putdowns
I think this was the most fun theme to do, and I also discovered some good ones that were posted by other forum members.

3. The Staircase Moments
Sometimes dramatic, sometimes hystairical, but definitely one of the best settings for soap opera (and therefore, a very good idea for the SoapLand Battle).

4. The Hunks
So popular we had to do it twice. I enjoyed it for the sheer self-indulgence.

5. The Spooky Scenes
Because I loved exploring this aspect of soap opera.
 

Richard Channing

Telly Talk Winner
LV
13
 
Messages
3,861
Reaction score
10,098
Awards
25
Location
Tuscany Valley
Member Since
December 21st, 2013
1. The Bitchslaps
These were just really great moments to be reminded of and who doesn't love a good bitchslap? There were great examples from all the soaps and all in all it turned out to be a really fun round.


2, The Favourite Episode Cliffhangers
This was an XL battle with 10 nominations for each soap which meant we got to relive many of our beloved soaps most dramatic non-season finale cliffhangers. It was also special in that in the end we voted for our top 5 of the top 5's.

3. The Seasons
A difficult one with so many great seasons of soap to choose from. I was very curious to see how other members would vote and some gave some really good reasons/reviews of the seasons. It was also interesting to note that it was season 2 of Falcon Crest, Dallas and Dynasty in the top 3 places, with Falcon Crest winning, which was also a nice surprise.

4. The Death Scenes
A trip down memory lane that reminded us of some of the most dramatic, iconic moments in the soaps.

5. The Season Premieres
Another one that has some great posts and reviews of the best of Soapland's season premieres. This was a 2 for the price of one battle which also had a poll for best pilot and it was a double win for Dynasty.



Honourbale mention: The Biggest Hair
Really deserves a mention as it was the one that started them all. A very different format to how we did it now, and unfortunately gone in the crash, but I remember it being loads of fun.
 
Last edited:

Jock Og

Telly Talk Addict
LV
10
 
Messages
1,153
Reaction score
5,403
Awards
28
Location
Ireland
Member Since
18th November 2000
1) The Villains: Where would we be without them, in the world of the eighties prime time soaps. It was the look, the wickedness, the laugh and his underhanded nature which gave Mr. DALLAS a clear win.

2) The Seasons: A very insightful battle about everyone's perception of a good season. What was particularly characteristic of a top year for the four supersoaps or six, when you include the short lived FLAMINGO ROAD and THE COLBYS.

3) The Staircase Moments: There could only be one soap opera to have the edge over the others and of course Joan Collins as Alexis nails the scene. Well she always said as much anyway.

4) The Weddings: I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride. The celebration in Moldavia just put the tin hat on it, as regards matrimony. What a wedding and a way to end a very high ranking year.

5) The Theme Tunes: The place for top spot was a close run thing, between the show with Angela / the vineyards and the one with Alexis / catfights / oil. The latter's pilot score before the Collins woman arrived, is a superb piece of music.






 

Jock Og

Telly Talk Addict
LV
10
 
Messages
1,153
Reaction score
5,403
Awards
28
Location
Ireland
Member Since
18th November 2000
By the way my thanks to the Oleson kid and Mr. Richard Channing for putting these battles together on an alternate basis. Each and every one of them were fun. They provided much depth as to certain participant's opinion on their vote. I will miss the battles.
 

Mel O'Drama

Admin
LV
12
 
Messages
13,298
Solutions
1
Reaction score
27,036
Awards
29
Member Since
28th September 2008
1. The Cars
Simply because I welcomed the chance to geek out over vehicles.


2. Character Title Cards
The Eighties iconography overload was a delight, with layer upon layer of happy associations. It was a reminder of something the Eighties soaps all did incredibly well.


3. The Singing Scenes
Those mini-skirted whippersnappers were whooped by a ditzy grandma with an autoharp singing with cheery gusto about her mother’s funeral.


4. Roles In Other Series
A double-win is exciting enough. But a double-win which includes Howards’ Way is truly thrilling.


5. The Love Triangles
Because Seaview Circle’s triangle squarely won.







Special Uncensored Mention To:

The Sex Scenes
We can now look back on that time the FCC and BBFC tried to close us down and laugh. Our first late night edition of The Battles gave everyone satisfaction.






Huge thanks to Executive Producers Richard and Willie for one hundred editions of pure fun. Your creativity and enthusiasm are a big part of what kept me coming back for more. :love7::love7:
 

Emelee

Telly Talk Warrior
LV
6
 
Messages
5,403
Reaction score
9,024
Awards
15
Location
Sweden
I have been pondering what to focus on. Favourite winners? Favourite aspects of soaps? Favourite surprises? Something else? Decisions, decisions, decisions...
 

Richard Channing

Telly Talk Winner
LV
13
 
Messages
3,861
Reaction score
10,098
Awards
25
Location
Tuscany Valley
Member Since
December 21st, 2013
I have been pondering what to focus on. Favourite winners? Favourite aspects of soaps? Favourite surprises? Something else? Decisions, decisions, decisions...

I just went with the ones I enjoyed taking part in and reading others posts in the most. But each to their own.
 

Emelee

Telly Talk Warrior
LV
6
 
Messages
5,403
Reaction score
9,024
Awards
15
Location
Sweden
1. The Mansions
I love soap mansions and imagining having one myself

2. The Rivalries
The most important relationship in soaps

3. The Cars
As with mansions

4. The Weddings
Cause they can never be without drama

5. The Vixens
Their schemings and manipulations are often more fun than the bad guys'
 
Last edited:
Top